Surveillance Strategies For Early Detection Research Articles

Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2: Data Analysis and Assessment of Tunisian Strategy from January 2021 to February 2022.

Due to the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant in the UK in 2020 and its risk of increased transmission, the Ministry of Health in Tunisia implemented a sequencing surveillance strategy for SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to analyze SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance data in Tunisia (January 2021-February 2022) and to assess the implementation of the sequencing strategy for SARS-CoV-2 in accordance with national recommendations and the guidance for SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance for public health goals. A descriptive study of all sequenced RT-PCR samples sequenced (January 2021-February2022). An internal audit was also done to assess the compliance against standards covering national recommendations and the Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance for public health goals. A total of 12 simple or composite requirements related to the following areas were included in the audit standards: sampling (one requirements); data collection/analysis (six requirements); partnership (one requirement); and ethical considerations (one requirement). A total of 4819 samples were sent to laboratories and 4278 samples were sequenced. A total of 3648 samples were classified. Positive variants of concern (VOC) samples were 80.92%, differentiated as follows: Alpha, 40.24%; Beta, 0.24%; Gamma, 0.03%; Delta, 45.26%; and Omicron, 14.19%. Three principal phases of VOCs per ISO-week were shown: Alpha 3/2021-25/2021; Delta 26/2021-2/2022; and Omicron 3/2022-6/2022. Levels of compliance were identified; from a total of 12 requirements, 7 were considered as "not met", 4 as "partially met", and 1 as "fully met" but including not totally achieved objectives. In conclusion, the internal audit of the national SARS-CoV-2 sequencing strategy revealed an overall "not met" level of compliance. The results offered a trigger to collaborate with all stakeholders to develop a surveillance strategy for early detection and response to outbreaks caused by VOCs.

Avian influenza overview June - September 2022.

The 2021–2022 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epidemic season is the largest HPAI epidemic so far observed in Europe, with a total of 2,467 outbreaks in poultry, 47.7 million birds culled in the affected establishments, 187 outbreaks in captive birds, and 3,573 HPAI virus detections in wild birds with an unprecedent geographical extent reaching from Svalbard islands to South Portugal and Ukraine, affecting 37 European countries. Between 11 June and 9 September 2022, 788 HPAI virus detections were reported in 16 European countries in poultry (56), captive (22) and wild birds (710). Several colony‐breeding seabird species exhibited widespread and massive mortality from HPAI A(H5N1) virus along the northwest coast of Europe. This resulted in an unprecedentedly high level of HPAI virus detections in wild birds between June and August 2022 and represents an ongoing risk of infection for domestic birds. HPAI outbreaks were still observed in poultry from June to September with five‐fold more infected premises than observed during the same period in 2021 and mostly distributed along the Atlantic coast. Response options to this new epidemiological situation include the definition and rapid implementation of suitable and sustainable HPAI mitigation strategies such as appropriate biosecurity measures and surveillance strategies for early detection in the different poultry production systems. The viruses currently circulating in Europe belong to clade 2.3.4.4b with seven genotypes, three of which identified for the first time during this time period, being detected during summer. HPAI A(H5) viruses were also detected in wild mammal species in Europe and North America and showed genetic markers of adaptation to replication in mammals. Since the last report, two A(H5N6), two A(H9N2) and one A(H10N3) human infections were reported in China. The risk of infection is assessed as low for the general population in the EU/EEA, and low to medium for occupationally exposed people.

A94 RECURRENT HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA: EVALUATION OF 8 POST-TRANSPLANT SCORING SYSTEMS

Abstract Background Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. It is well known that there is a discordance between pre-transplant imaging and post-transplant pathology that affect risk of recurrence. Several risk assessment tools have been developed, although to date, there is no widely accepted tool to predict HCC recurrence. Aims The aim of the current study is to determine which pathologic risk assessment score has the best predicative ability. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 152 patients over a twelve-year period that underwent liver transplantation for HCC. Using explanted pathology reports, each patient was stratified according to the pathologic risk score and followed over time for HCC recurrence. We evaluated eight pathologic risk scores and determined predictive ability by assessing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Results Out of 152 consecutive liver transplants for HCC, recurrence occurred in 21 patients (14%) with a mean follow-up of 59.5 months. 54% of patients were within Milan criteria prior to transplant. According to explant pathology, microvascular invasion was seen in 16% of patients, with majority of the tumors being moderately differentiated (48%), tumor size ≥ 3cm (52%), and 26% of tumors in both lobes of the liver. Preliminary data suggests that the Parfitt et. al score has the best predictive ability, with 60% of recurrence occurring in those considered high-risk. Further assessment via AUROC will be required to confirm the preliminary data. Conclusions Preliminary data suggests the Parfitt et al. score may have the best predictive ability to detect recurrence. This risk assessment tool can help tailor a surveillance strategy for early detection or early adjuvant therapy to improve long-term survival. Funding Agencies None

Sentinel surveillance strategies for early detection of coronavirus disease in fever clinics: experience from China.

Sentinel surveillance system plays a key role in screening and monitoring emerging and acute infectious diseases in order to identify the suspected cases in time. During SARS period in 2003, fever clinics emerged in many cities in mainland China with the purpose to screen the suspected SARS patients and to transfer the confirmed cases to designated hospitals for professional management. Shanghai city has reserved the fever clinics and the designated hospitals since then. Hence, clinicians in the front line are able to respond quickly to the emerging COVID-19 outbreak with their accumulated knowledge and experiences from the past. One hundred seventeen fever clinics distributed in various district areas in Shanghai have played a vital 'sentinel' role to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. Most of suspected patients were identified in fever clinics and thereafter among these suspected patients the COVID-19 cases were confirmed and were isolated quickly to avoid the spread. We would like to share the sentinel roadmap for screening and diagnosis of COVID-19 to medical healthcare workers around the world, especially countries who are facing great challenges to cope with COVID-19 and meanwhile with limited medical resources. These sentinel surveillance strategies will certainly provide insight into the early detection and timely isolation of suspected cases from the others.

Optimizing surveillance strategies for early detection of invasive alien species

Surveillance programs to detect alien invasive pests seek to find them as soon as possible, but also to minimize the cost of damage from invasion. To examine the trade-offs between these objectives, we developed an economic model that allocates survey sites to minimize either the expected mitigation costs or the expected time until first detection of an invasive alien pest subject to a budget constraint on surveillance costs. We also examined strategies preferred by ambiguity-averse decision makers that minimize the expected and worst-case outcomes of each performance measure. We applied the model to the problem of detecting Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, one of the most harmful invasive alien insects in North America. When minimizing expected mitigation costs or expected time to detection, the trade-off between these survey objectives was small. Strategies that minimize the worst-case mitigation costs differed sharply and surveyed sites with high host densities using high sampling intensities whereas strategies that minimize the worst detection times surveyed sites across the entire area using low sampling intensities. Our results suggest that preferences for minimizing mitigation costs or time to detection are more consequential for ambiguity-averse managers than they are for risk-neutral decision-makers.

Enhancing surveillance for early detection of Zika virus infection: strategies for the countries of Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Zika virus infection (ZIKV) has caused major outbreaks in tropic and sub-tropic areas. No case from ZIKV has yet been reported in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) despite the presence of competent vector Aedes mosquitoes in many of these countries. This study addresses appropriate surveillance strategies for early detection of ZIKV infection, which is important for EMR countries with established Aedes populations, but with no known or documented autochthonous transmission of ZIKV. The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean developed a strategic framework for enhancing surveillance for ZIKV infection in EMR countries with established Aedes populations through a consultative process and review of available evidence. The framework calls for enhancing surveillance for early detection of ZIKV infection using a combination of both syndromic and event-based surveillance approaches. Enhancing surveillance for ZIKAV would require no shift in the existing system. A number of considerations would be required to integrate this syndromic and event-based surveillance approaches within the existing system.

Complement component C9 as a new biomarker for esophageal adenocarcinoma.

19 Background: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) continues an upward trend. Mortality rate and treatment costs for EAC are very high overall and significantly increase with disease stage. Diagnosis at early stage (T1) compared to advanced stage (T3) improves 5 year survival from 20% to 80-90%. Endoscopic surveillance has been ineffective in reducing EAC. Therefore the need for better diagnostic tools for early detection.Previously we reported validation of a list of serum glycoprotein biomarker candidates for EAC in an Australian cohort (Shah et al. 2015 Mol Cell Proteomics. 14:3023-39.). Here we further evaluate the serum and tissue expression of top candidate C9 in an independent cohort from the USA. Methods: Serum samples (n=38) and FFPE tissue sections (n=34) were collected from participants with IRB approved protocol, from the Ochsner Clinic undergoing endoscopic surveillance for Barrett’s and esophageal cancer. Serum glycoprotein candidates were measured using lectin magnetic bead array-coupled multiple reaction monitoring assay (Shah et al. 2015 Mol Cell Proteomics. 14:3023-39.). Immunohistochemistry was optimised for complement component C9 antibody. Initial evaluation of 2 different antibodies gave similar results, thereafter, a polyclonal antibody from Sigma Aldrich was used. Staining was assessed by a gastrointestinal pathologist. Results: Specific glycosylated forms of 3 candidate serum biomarkers were confirmed to be significantly different between EAC and benign groups (p<0.05, Kruskal-Wallis). The diagnostic value for the 3 individual markers, complement component C9, gelsolin and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (Serpin A3) was 0.71 to 0.82 area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC). A multivariate panel consisting of 8 glycoprotein biomarkers achieved AUROC of 0.96, indicative of high diagnostic value. Immunohistochemistry of tissues detected high levels of C9 in BE and EAC compared to normal squamous epithelium. Infiltrated lymphocytes showed variable staining. Conclusions: We propose a novel candidate biomarker complement component C9 which could add to current endoscopic surveillance strategy for early detection of adenocarcinoma.

Evaluation of a surveillance strategy for early detection of adenovirus by PCR of peripheral blood in hematopoietic SCT recipients: incidence and outcome

Adenoviruses (AdV) have emerged as important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients after hematopoietic SCT (HSCT). Early diagnosis of the infection by detection of viral DNA may improve the prognosis. A surveillance strategy was evaluated for detection of AdV DNA by PCR in a prospective study of unselected allogeneic HSCT recipients. In parallel with a routine CMV surveillance program, plasma from 20 children and 77 adults was analyzed by quantitative PCR for detection of AdV DNA. In addition, in 12 unselected patients, the presence of AdV-specific T cells were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) at 1 to 3 months after transplantation. A total of 5 of 97 (5%) patients had detectable AdV DNA in peripheral blood. Only one patient had high titers and none developed AdV disease. BM as a source of stem cells and myelodysplastic syndrome as the indication for transplantation were independently associated with higher risk of acquiring AdV infection. AdV-specific T cells were detected in 7 (58%) of 12 patients. Although AdV DNA was found in peripheral blood by quantitative PCR in 5% of patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT, the present surveillance program did not have a significant effect on the clinical outcome.

Quantitative Evaluation for the Surveillance Strategies of Equine Infectious Anemia in Japan

Equine infectious anemia (EIA) has not been detected since 1993 by the nation-wide surveillance testing at least every five years, therefore it is believed that this disease has been eradicated from Japan. For the purpose of considering effective and efficient surveillance to be adopted under the current EIA situation, we evaluated several surveillance strategies using a transmission model of EIA among non-racehorse. The model incorporated horse movements for generating the spread of between and within four independent sectors, that constitute non-racehorse population, namely, the equestrian sector, private owner sector, exhibition sector and fattening sector.The number of infected horses and farms after one year from introduction of an infected horse was estimated 14 heads (90%CI : 2-72 heads) and 2 farms (90%CI : 1-8 farms) in the baseline model. Under the current surveillance model, it was estimated that an infected horse was first detected 13 weeks (90%CI : 4-56 weeks) after the disease introduction, the number of horses and farms that have been infected before the detection were estimated 5 head (90%CI : 1-17 heads) and 1 farm (90%CI : 1-2 farms), respectively. A surveillance strategy testing horses in the equestrian sector and private owner sector annually as well as horses for movement detected infected horses earlier than the current surveillance model. However, it increased the number of horses to be inspected per year. Lengthening testing interval from once a year to once every 3 years or every 5years, reduce the number of horses to be tested up to 30-40% with almost equivalent effectiveness of the current surveillance strategy. Using the transmission model of EIA, we could evaluate various surveillance strategies for early detection from the viewpoint of effectiveness and efficiency.Further refinement of the model, such as incorporating temporary movements of horses or reflecting potential risk of racehorses and imported horses, may provide more useful information for considering applicable surveillance strategies.

Prenatal Diagnosis, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, and Cancer: Was Hamlet Wrong?

Prenatal Diagnosis, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, and Cancer: Was Hamlet Wrong?

Patients with a Family History of Cancer: Identification and Management

A family history of certain malignancies, especially breast, ovarian, colorectal, and prostate cancers, can place persons at increased risk of developing these cancers. By constructing a pedigree that includes 3 generations, family physicians can identify patients at increased risk because of family cancer history. Persons at increased cancer risk because of family history warrant a surveillance strategy for early detection. Genetic professionals represent an important resource in assessing genetic risk and possible testing. Persons identified as being at increased risk of various cancers based on their family history should understand the surveillance plan that is recommended and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and remaining up to date on other cancer screening tests.